Analysis of fuel pin behavior under slow-ramp type transient overpower condition by using the fuel performance evaluation code ‘FEMAXI-FBR’

Abstract

FEMAXI-FBR has been developed as the one module of the core disruptive accident analysis code 'ASTERIA-FBR' in order to evaluate the mixed oxide (MOX) fuel performance under steady, transient and accident conditions of fast reactors consistently. On the basis of light water reactor (LWR) fuel performance evaluation code 'FEMAXI-6', FEMAXI-FBR develops specific models for the fast reactor fuel performance, such as restructuring, material migration during steady state and transient, melting cavity formation and pressure during accident, so that it can evaluate the fuel failure during accident. The analysis of test pin with slow transient over power test of CABRI-2 program was conducted from steady to transient. The test pin was pre-irradiated and tested under transient overpower with several % P 0 /s (P 0 : steady state power) of the power rate. Analysis results of the gas release ratio, pin failure time, and fuel melt radius were compared to measured values. The analysis results of the steady and transient performances were also compared with the measured values. The compared performances are gas release ratio, fuel restructuring for steady state and linear power and melt radius at failure during transient. This analysis result reproduces the measured value. It was concluded that FEMAXI-FBR is effective to evaluate fast reactor fuel performances from steady state to accident conditions.